Synthetic biology as a field of dual-use bioethical concern

Reference:

Kelle, A., 2013. Synthetic biology as a field of dual-use bioethical concern. In: Rappert, B. and Selgelid, M., eds. On the Dual Uses of Science and Ethics. Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press.

Related documents:

This repository does not currently have the full-text of this item. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided below.

Related URLs:

Abstract

Over the past decade synthetic biology has emerged as one of the most dynamic sub-fields of the post-genomic life sciences. This chapter first outline the scope of synthetic biology as a new subfield in the life sciences in which different science and engineering disciplines converge. This is followed by a brief discussion of synthetic biology’s potential for malign misuse as well as some of the proposals for governance of this new technoscience. Thus far, the mostly technical character of these proposals has resulted in a rather limited appreciation of the wider governance issues related to the full breadth of approaches usually subsumed under the synthetic biology label. The final section will discuss both academic and institutional contributions to a bio-ethically informed discourse on the misuse potential of synthetic biology.